What is a monkeybox?

When I was a little girl, we had a pet monkey named Amanda. My Dad worked in the produce business, so each night he brought home that days culls in a big box - spotty cucumbers, pithy apples, limp celery, moldy oranges and the like. We called it a monkeybox. It was really just trash, but my Mom would take each piece of fruit and trim it, pare it and cut it up to make a beautiful fruit platter for Amanda. Even though it was deemed trash by one, it still had life left in it and was good for the purpose we needed it. That's how I live my life - thrifting, yard saling, looking for another's trash to be my treasure.

Friday, March 25, 2011

They're Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack!

Yard sales - they are back!  And, I am a happy, happy gal.  Today I went to a neighborhood sale and went to about ten yard sales.  There are going to be more tomorrow, so I think the car might end up back out there again.  Darn that car!

I love it when I go yard saling and bring home a big fancy bag. Makes the neighbors think I've been out spending the Breadman's hard earned money!  All of my purchases, except for one, fit easily into this bag.  So, I didn't get a ton, but what I did get I love.  That is the theme for this year - only buy it if I love it or it can go straight on ebay. 
This big old wooden rake wouldn't fit in my Macy's bag.  But, for $1.00, that didn't matter.  It looks great mixed in with my Garden themed front porch.

At the first house, there was a big table full of stuff and things strewn about on the ground.  Nothing was priced.  As I picked up each item, the man standing beside me would mutter "50¢", "25¢", "50¢".  I wasn't 100% sure he was even the person having the sale until he said, "I didn't get the chance to price anything".  After he quoted me mostly 50¢ on each thing I picked up, I decided to make a pile.  I got this giant vintage planter and a total of 108 old advertising pens from the 1950's for a total of $1.50. 
My favorite sale of the day, and you will see why later in this post, netted me this pair of old porcelain bunnies for $1.00.
I left some sales empty handed.  At one sale, I only bought this sweet old rusty chair for 25¢.
Both of these pieces of pottery are from Canada - purchased from two different houses on the same block.  I couldn't pass up the old Dick and Jane Reader for 25¢.
My favorite sale had this vintage JAPAN Musical Bell  and vintage Santa Candy dish.
Three fun Silvestri tin rabbits for 25¢ each.  At the sale where I bought these, I also bought a set of vintage glasses for the booth.  I hope to sell the glasses for enough to pay for all the loot I brought home today. 
A handmade birch basket and a glass flower frog.  About three years ago, I had never heard of a flower frog.  Now, I think I have about twenty of them.  I wonder how many of them I missed in the past?

When I arrived at what I am calling my favorite sale, I wished that I had been there the minute the garage doors opened.  I imagine that I missed some treasures.  But, what I did get made me eternally happy.
Case in point - vintage, pipe cleaner, monkeys.  Need I say more?  25¢ for this little jewel which is now the official mascot of monkeybox.

Now, hold onto your hat.  'Cause it's a doozie.
 Bam!  Blue mercury glass!  Silver foil leaves!  Paper mache planter!  Bam!  I swear, my heart stopped when I saw this.  I never find cool old stuff quite like this.  But, I found this one! 
 And, this one!  Green!
And this one!  And this one!  Two blue, two green.  Ah, pure bliss.  Now, to doctor them up and incorporate them into the whole Christmas extravaganza I have going on.  (Not now, in December!)

Today got my blood going for yard sale season.  The thrill of  the hunt, seeing all new things (I think I know the thrift store rejects shelf by shelf by heart now), finding a treasure.......oh, it was FUN!

I believe on Monday I will finally put out my Easter stuff.  It has been a long wait since Valentine's Day!  I am ready to get some pops of color and cutie pie vintage things back into the house.  I am anxious to see all the eggs from last years swap again.  I received the first box of eggs today for this years swap.  Looking forward to seeing the rest!

8 comments:

  1. I'm totally green with envy. You scored BIG time. Awesome finds...especially your mercury glass, foil leave planters!! How perfect that you should find the pipe cleaner monkeys! They were definitely meant to come home with you.

    Have a splendid weekend!

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  2. Well Done! Hope you have just as much luck today! Sales just started popping up here too, but so far I've not found much. Never fear...I know if I keep going, I'll find lots. Garage sales are the best!

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  3. Oh wow! Love your finds and such great prices. I know that yard sales are the best place to score low prices on great items. Pipe cleaner monkeys? how perfect. hugs, Linda

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  4. Your day was way better than mine! I love your new mascot. You can even pet those monkeys!

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  5. Amazing, as usual. :) Pipe cleaner monkeys are the height of vintage awesomeness! And the glass ball trees are swoon-worthy.

    So, what are you going to do with all the pens? Because last night at the thrift there was a big bag of old pens and I bought it all because of you. LOL And now I have no clue what to do with a bunch of old pens!

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  6. Lucky you, it's still in the 30s here so garage/yard sales are far & few between. :( I did manage to hit a rummage sale last weekend and found a few things. Thrift stores always get new things here so that's my best bet until the sales & flea markets start up again.

    The little monkeys are so adorable! People used to be so crafty. The Christmas trees are beautiful too, I can imagine they're pretty hard to find.

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  7. You have such a knack for finding amazing, beautiful, and fun stuff. I can't wait for yard sale season here. You've got the jump start.
    Erin

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  8. O, I heart the bunnies!

    Also, love the new banner-so spring-y!

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